Monday, September 10, 2007

Another Physician Shortage in Canada

From the CBC news comes this report of another physician shortage in Canada. Here's an excerpt (items in bold are mine):
A shortage of urologists has become so pronounced that patients' lives are at risk, managers of a St. John's-based health authority have been warned.

In a powerfully worded letter to the Eastern Health regional authority, urologist Dr. Douglas Drover said an "excessive volume of work" in the specialty has meant waiting times of almost a year for patients seeking treatment.

Andy Grant, a member of a prostate cancer support group in St. John's, said he is afraid that people will die -- or already have -- while waiting for surgery.

..."First of all, [patients deal with] the shock you might have prostate cancer, then the shock of being confirmed with prostate cancer," he said. "Now you have the shock of saying, 'I have to wait until next year?' "...
But, hey - at least the health care in Canada is "free"!

(Via KevinMD.com)